The relationship of human resource function's roles on high-involvement work practices and quality initiatives in Malaysian manufacturing companies

Abstract

The study's purpose was to assess the effect of different human resource function's roles on quality initiatives and high–involvement work practices in the Malaysian manufacturing companies. This study was carried out in line with achieving total quality management and consequently business excellence. The conceptual framework has been adapted from prior research to assess the impact of different HR function's roles on Malaysian manufacturing companies. A total of 81 HR and quality managers completed the online survey questionnaire for measuring the effect of HR function's role on high–involvement work practices' features including team work, skill development, communication, performance evaluation, reward and recognition, and empowerment and quality initiatives. t–test and MANOVA were performed to test the hypotheses. The research proved the positive influence of driving and steering roles of HR and revealed that steering role of HR function has the most positive effect on high–involvement work practices and quality initiatives among others.